Jane B. Merski Kalivoda

Jane B. Merski Kalivoda, age 88, of Erie, died Wednesday July 7, 2010 at Ball Pavilion.

Born July 24th, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Jacob and Walerya Gadujko Merski.

After graduating from East High School, Jane and her sister helped run the family store, Merski Dry Goods, between 9th and 10th Street on East Avenue. She was then a homemaker who devoted herself to her family.

Jane was a native of St. Casimir Church where she was a member of its Blue Army. She and her husband were long time members of Mount Calvary Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond who passed away in 1982; 5 brothers, Joseph, Frank, Edward, Anthony, and Leo Merski; 3 sisters, Ann Kalinowski, Josephine Merski, and Frances Kubiak-Johnson; and two sisters-in-law, Dorothy and Rita Kalivoda.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Lorraine Rose, husband Bob, Janice Totleben, husband Alan, and Carolyn Ross, husband Craig; 3 sons, Raymond Kalivoda, wife Carol, Donald Kalivoda, wife Karen, and James Kalivoda, wife Tami all of Erie; 2 sisters-in-law, Loretta Borawski, husband Walter and Theresa Merski; a brother-in-law, Robert Kalivoda; 19 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call on Sunday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the A. Brugger & Sons Funeral Home, 845 East 38th Street at Pine Avenue. Services will be held there on Monday at 10:40 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Mount Calvary Church at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Matthew Kujawinski celebrating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. The Rosary Society of St. Casimir Church will meet at the Funeral Home, Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Second Harvest Food Bank, 1507 Grimm Drive, Erie, PA 16501 or to the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 1001 State Street, Suite 1400, Erie, PA 16501.